unconformable
Americanadjective
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not conformable; not conforming.
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Geology. indicating discontinuity of any type in a stratigraphic sequence.
adjective
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not conformable or conforming
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(of rock strata) consisting of a series of younger strata that do not succeed the underlying older rocks in age or in parallel position, as a result of a long period of erosion or nondeposition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unconformable
First recorded in 1585–95; un- 1 + conformable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’m always going to talk about what makes people unconformable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2025
It is critical at a time of public health crisis to be aware of the line between panic and preparation, to speak tough and unconformable truths without being alarmist.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 9, 2020
The older half of this Laurentian series is unconformable to the newer portion of the same.
From The Student's Elements of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
These beds are dipping and unconformable with the rocks above; while they make but 800 feet of the wall or less, they have a geological thickness of 12,000 feet.
From Canyons of the Colorado by John Wesley Powell
In the grounds of the Admiralty House curious instances of unconformable strata are laid bare in old quarries.
From The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, Vol. II by Thomas Barnes Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
